Frank Gardner – the BBC’s award-winning Security Correspondent has been elected as Ski Club of Great Britain President.  

Despite referring to himself as “a late developer in skiing”, Gardner trained for biathlon with the British Army, and spent some of his gap year Nordic skiing across the Arctic Circle. When he finally graduated to downhill skiing at the age of 23, he explored some fairly obscure ski destinations, visiting Iran, Lebanon and Transylvania.

Gardner has reported for the BBC from all over the Middle East on a wide range of international and domestic security issues. He was shot six times by terrorists while on assignment in Saudi Arabia in 2004, but returned to work in a wheelchair and was awarded the OBE by the Queen the following year.

After his gunshot injuries Gardner retrained to ski in a sit-ski and has since competed in the BBC Ski Sunday Slalom at Courmayeur, coming – according to him - spectacularly last!  He spoke of his determination at the Ski Club AGM: “After I was shot I knew there were two things I just couldn’t give up – I had to keep skiing and scuba diving.”

Frank Gardner responded to his nomination and election: “It is a great honour to join your community and club, a real privilege. I’m looking forward to being involved directly with the sport I love.”

It’s important to remember that Responsible Skiing is not just about the environment or local communities – it’s also about ensuring that skiing is accessible to all.   There are many people confined to wheelchairs who find skiing is one of the few things that can give them a real sense of freedom.   I hope that Frank Gardner’s presidency will give extra focus to this neglected area of ski tourism and give hope and inspiration to many.